Ski hinge



Jan. 16, 1945. c. B. RoLLxNs V2,367,528

SKI HINGE Filed sept. 6, 194:5

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Patented Jan. 16, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT' OFFICE SKI HINGE v Cecil B. Rollins, South Berwick Maine Application September 6, 1943, Serial No. 501,407'.

I'Cl. 28a-41.13);

3 Claims.

' My invention relates to folding skis, oi that class comprising a runner consisting of runner `sections hingediy connected .at abutting ends so that they may be. relatively adjusted to occupy either extended end-to-end relationshipv while the ski is in use, or collapsed side-by-side relationship to reduce the lengthV of the runner while the ski is not in use and while it is in storage or `being transported.

The invention also` has particular reference to the construction of the hinge or hinges by which the runner sections are connected.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved folding or collapsibleski of the class described but it is also an object of this invention to provide an, improved hinge of simple, inexpensive and eicient construction which will. be particularly adapted to be incorporated in. a ski of the kind referred. to'. y To these ends Iy have pro-vided an improved ski. of the class described and also an improved hinge for incorporation therein, which in their preferred. forms may be constructed and operate as set forth inthe following description, the several` novel features of the invention being separately pointed out andv dened in the claims at the close of the description.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is aside elevation of a folding ski constructed in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view of a portion of the folding ski shown in Fig. ,1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Figures 7 and 8 are details of one of the locking bolts hereinafter described. v

vFigure 91s an elevation of the pintle hereinafter described.

The runner of the ski shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing comprises three sections including a front section Il), an intermediate section II and a rear end section I2, these three sections being shown in full lines as occupying their extended relationship. The rear end of front section vIII abuts the forward end of the intermediate section I I to which it is pivotally connected by means of a hinge I3 constructed in accordance with my invention, while the forward end of the rear section I2 abuts the rear end of said intermediate section to which it is also pivotally connected by means ci another hinge I3 of similar construction.

Since the hinges I3 and I3a are alike in construction a. description of one will suiiice for both, but it may be pointed out here .that these two hinges permit of adjustment of the end. sections so that they may be caused to occupy either the extended positions shown by full lines (Fig. l) or the inolded positions indicated by broken lines, each hinge being. so constructed as automatically to lock its4 end section in each position when said section is. unlocked and moved from one position to the other. K

The hinge I3 comprises three apertured lugs or arms I4, I5 andl I6 which constitute rigid extensions of the front. runner section In since they are integral parts of a. platev I'I` fixed. in. position` upon the top sideof. said section, adjacent to the rear end. of the latter, by means of. bol-ts ISL The lug or arm I5 is disposed midway between the two lugs or arms i4 and t6 and the aperturesl of said three lugs are alined transversely with respect to.- the runner and also disposed directly above or opposite the joint between the abutting ends of runner sections ID and Ici when the runner is in its extended condition.

The three lugs I4,l I5 and I6 are disposed between two apertured lugs or arms I'I and I8 whichy constitute rigid extensions of the. intermediate runner section II since they arev integral with plates I9 and 2U, respectively',v which are rigidly fastened by bolts 2| to said intermediate section.

The aperture 22 of the middle lug I5 (Figs. 2 and 6) is made square in cross-section to receive within it and t the squared middle portion 23 (Fig. 9) of a pintle 24 so that said lug I5 and pintle 24 cannot rotate relatively to each other but must turn as one unit. The lugs I'I and I8 fit against the outer faces of lugs I4 and I6, respectively, so that the two lrunner sections are held againstl sidewise displacement, relatively to each other.

The apertures 25 of lugs I4 and I6 (Figs. 2 and 5) are cylindrical and each has loosely tted within it' an exteriorly cylindrical bolt sleeve 2S whose interior is made square as viewed in crosssection to loosely t upon the squared intermediate portion 23 of pintle 24, the opposite ends of said square intermediate portion abutting the lugs I'I and I8 at its corners. t

Thus the two clutch sleeves are, in effect, splined on the pintle so that While said sleeves must rotate with the pintle and runner section I0 they may be adjusted axially on pintle 24 toward and from the outer lugs I'I and I 8.

The squared portion 23 of pintle 24 is provided at its opposite ends with trunnions 2'I which are rotatably supported within cylindrical apertures 28 (Figs. 2 and 4) formed in the lugs l1 and I8.

The outer end of each bolt sleeve 26 is made with two segmental bosses 29 (Figs. 2, 4 and 5) disposed at opposite sides of the axis of said sleeve, said bosses being adapted to occupy two segmental sockets 30 provided upon the inner side or face of the proximate lug or arm Il or I8. While I have herein shown two bosses 29 on each bolt sleeve 26 itis to be understood that a single boss would serve my purpose but would not withstand the shocks and stresses'to which the hinge is subv jected while the ski is in use, as well as two bosses,

Mounted on pintle 24 between each bolt sleeve I 26 and the middle lug or arm l5 is provided a coiled spring 3| which yieldingly holds its sleeve in engagement; with its lug or4 arm Il, or I8.

It will be clear that when the runne'r is in" said lugs so as to provide for angular adjustment of said sections relatively, said pintle being nonrotatably connected with one of the lugs of one of said sections; two bolt sleeves slidably splined on said pintle with one of said sleeves slidably mounted within the aperture of one of the lugs of said last-mentioned section and the other sleeve slidably mounted within the aperture of another lug of said last-mentioned section, said bolt sleeves being engageable with lugs of the other section to rigidly lock said sections against angular displacement relatively, and means for holding said sleeves in locking engagement with said last-mentioned lugs while said sections are 'at the limit of their angular adjustment relatively "in each direction, said sleeves being manually operable to disengage the same from said lastextended condition as shown by full lines in the drawing, the bosses 29 occupy the sockets 30 and serve to positively lock the runner sections against relative pivotal displacement. It will also be clear that by manually retracting bolt sleeves 26 the end runner sections may be unlocked and swung on the hinge 180 degrees into positions alongside intermediate section II as indicated by broken lines in Figs. 1 and 3, whereupon the spring pressed clutch sleeves 26 again interlock with the lugs or arms l1 and I8 and positively lock the sections of the runner in their collapsed or folded condition.

As shown in Fig. 2 the bosses 29 taper toward their free ends while the side walls of the sockets 3U are of complementary shape so that the sides of the bosses 29 seat against said side walls be fore the ends of the bosses engage the bottoms of the sockets. In this way the bosses always t snugly into the sockets thereby preventing any play between the runner sections.

The inner ends of the bolt sleeves are preferably made with radial flanges for use in retracting said sleeves when the runner sections are to be adjusted relatively.

What I claim is:

1. A folding ski comprising two runner-sections having their front and rear ends, respectively, disposed in proximity to each other and made with intermeshing apertured lugs; a pintle occupying said apertures and pivotally connecting mentioned lugs.

2. A folding ski constructed in accordance with claim l and wherein said last-mentioned holding means consists of two springs, one for each bolt sleeve.

3. A structure comprising two sections having straight marginal portions disposed in proximity to each other, and a hinge pivotally connecting said sections comprising intermeshing apertured lugs fastened to said sections; a pintle occupying said apertures and pivotally connecting said lugs so as to provide for angular adjustment of said sections relatively, said pintle being non-rotatably connected with one of the lugs of one of said sections, two bolt sleeves slidably splined on said pintle with one of said sleeves slidably mounted within the aperture of one of the lugs of said last-mentioned section and the other sleeve slidably mounted within the aperture of another lug of said last-mentioned section, said bolt sleeves being engageable with lugs of the other section to rigidly and positively lock said sections against angular displacement relatively, and spring means holding said sleeves in locking engagement with said last-mentioned lugs while said sections are at the limit of their angular adjustment relatively in each direction, said sleeves being manually retractible to disengage the same CECIL B. ROLLINS. 

